Isbatov, 32, organised the low profile return trip for himself, wife and two children in an effort to avoid drawing the attention of the authorities but was arrested two days after his return, the NRC said.

According to the police, he was ‘shouting’ on the street when he was picked up. Vluchtelingenwerk, however, suggests, he may have been arrested on fake charges.

The organisation says the government must be much more careful when judging refugee applications from journalists and activists, who have to provide hard evidence that they are being persecuted.

‘This is not the first time a refugee has been arrested after his deportation,’ the organisation said, referring to Ali Mohammed Al Showaikh, a Bahrani man who was sentenced to life in jail on his return to Bahrein.

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